Lebohang Morake, the acclaimed South African composer whose vocals famously opened The Lion King, has initiated legal proceedings following a controversial mistranslation of his lyrics.
Morake alleges that the comedian Jonasi intentionally misrepresented the iconic introductory chant of the Elton John masterpiece, “Circle of Life.” The original Zulu phrase, “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” serves as a reverent tribute, translating to: “Here comes a lion, Father; we hail the king.”
During a segment on the “One54” podcast, Jonasi flippantly interpreted the line as “Look, it’s a lion. Oh my God.” Offended by the trivialization of his work, Morake is seeking $20 million in moral compensation alongside $7 million in punitive damages.
Disney’s 1994 animated feature The Lion King earned Elton John an Academy Award for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” with “Circle of Life” also receiving a nomination. The cinematic legacy has since grown to include a 2019 photorealistic remake and the 2024 prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King.